Taj Mahal ( Indian Wonder )

Taj Mahal represents the finest and most sophisticated example of Indo-Islamic architecture. The Taj Mahal is an enormous mausoleum complex commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

 

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Construction;- Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan for his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal is constructed on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, in India. It took nearly 21 years to build the Taj Mahal completely. The construction started in 1632 and had ended in 1653. The estimated cost for building the Taj Mahal is about around 32 million rupees at that time which is about 72 billion rupees in 2021. The tomb is the centerpiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre), it includes a mosque and a guest house. The construction employed 22,000 laborers which included 20,000 artisans and around 1,000 elephants were used to transport materials.

Exterior Decorations;-

                   

The exterior decorations of the Taj Mahal are among the finest in Mughal architecture. The decorative elements were created by applying paint, stucco, stone inlays, or carvings. In line with the Islamic prohibition against the use of anthropomorphic forms, the decorative elements can be grouped into either calligraphy, abstract forms, or vegetative motifs.

 Interior Decorations;-

                  

The interior chamber of the Taj Mahal reaches far beyond traditional decorative elements. The inner chamber is an octagon with the design allowing for entry from each face, although only the door facing the garden to the south is used. The interior walls are about 25 meters (82 ft.) high and are topped by a "false" interior dome decorated with a sun motif. Light enters through roof openings covered by chattris at the corners. The octagonal marble screen or jali bordering the cenotaphs is made from eight marble panels carved through with intricate pierce work.

Garden;-

                               

The complex is set around a large 300-meter (980 ft) square charbagh or Mughal garden. The garden uses raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the garden into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds. Halfway between the tomb and gateway in the center of the garden is a raised marble water tank with a reflecting pool positioned on a north-south axis to reflect the image of the mausoleum.

Threats for Taj Mahal;-

Concerns for the tomb's structural integrity have recently been raised because of a decline in the groundwater level in the Yamuna river basin which is falling at a rate of around 1.5 m (5 ft.) per year. In 2010, cracks appeared in parts of the tomb, and the minarets which surround the monument were showing signs of tilting, as the wooden foundation of the tomb may be rotting due to lack of water. It has been pointed out by politicians, however, that the minarets are designed to tilt slightly outwards to prevent them from crashing on top of the tomb in the event of an earthquake. In 2011, it was reported that some predictions indicated that the tomb could collapse within five years.

Facts about Taj Mahal;-

There is no proof to support the long-standing myth that artists and architects involved with the construction of the Taj Mahal were later put to death so that they could never "repeat such a beautiful feat." Instead, historians believe that they were required to sign contracts.

Shah Jahan's other wives and even his favorite servant are buried in mausoleums just outside of the Taj Mahal.

A total of 28 types of precious and semiprecious jewels are set in the marble. The turquoise came from Tibet, and jade came from China. Heavy white marble — the principal building material, was transported from Rajasthan.

Traveler's Guide ;-

The entry fee to the Taj Mahal varies between tourists and native residents    ( Indians ). Entry ticket for foreigners cost around Rs.1100 and it is free for children below the age of 15 and includes a water bottle, golf cart to the entry gate, tourist map of Agra city and a pair of shoe covers to protect the marble floors. Entry ticket for local residents ( Indians ) is Rs.50 and is also free for children under the age of 15. If you want to experience the beauty of this palace during a full moon night, the entry fee is Rs.750 for foreigners and Rs.510 for locals ( Indians ). To avoid standing in line at the ticket counters, entrance tickets to the Taj Mahal can be purchased online in advance.

Additional Rs.200 is to be paid to enter the main mausoleum. 

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